Improvement in telegraphs



PATENTED MAY 20, 1856. n. E. HUGHES.

TELEGRAPH.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED MAY 20, 1856.

D. E. HUGHES. TELEGRAPH-.-

3- SHEETS-SHEET 3 DAVID E. HUGHES, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

IMPROVEMENT IN TELEGRAPHS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 14,91 7, dated May 20,1856.

and use myinvention, I will proceed to describe its construction andoperation, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part ofthis specification in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view, and Fig. 2a birds-eye representation. Plate 3 represents parts or portions of theinstrument.

A in Fig. 1 is the electro-magnet, the poles of which are in contactwith the natural magnet B. (The poles being made the same as the naturalmagnet by electricity, the natural magnet no longer feels an attractionfor the softiron poles of the electro-magnet, and is at liberty to flyupward, being raised by a spring.) If opposite polarity be given to theelectro magnet by electricity, the natural and electro magnets are heldin contact by mutual attraction, and when the electric circuit is brokenthe natural magnet is at liberty to fly upward, the spring havingsufiicient force to overcome the attraction of the natural magnet forthe soft iron of the electro-magnet. An armature of soft iron might besubstituted for the natural magnet when the current is used as lastabove specified. The natural magnet B, in rising, works a detent, O,which sets free a crank or eccentric, G, which, in its revolution, movesthe platen I, the feed-wheel F, and the lever 1), by which ,the magnet Bis restgred to its restingposition. Thus the press and feed-wheel aregoverned by the combined use of natural and electro magnetism.

The crank H is revolved by a series of wheels or clock-work put inmotionbyweights, springs, or other motive power, the revolution of which crankmoves the lever D, which draws down the natural magnet to.theelectro-magnet, returning the natural magnet to its original position,thus'restorin g the connection between the electro and natural magnet.Two instruments being constructed to move in harmony, and so arrangedthat, the cog-wheel R of one being always in connection with theelectro-magnet,

I the bearing-spring T, which is connected with the extremity of themain line at the same moment, being in connection with or resting on oneof the cogs of R at a distant office, a similar spring, which isconnected-with the other extremity of the main line, at the same momentrests on one ofthe cogs of a cylinder similar to S, which cylinder canbe put in connection with the ground-wire Y at pleasure by means ofprojections from the cylinder, which. at the proper time restores one ofthe connectingsprings Q, after being released from its rest, to itsoriginal position, and in so doing forms an electrical communicationwith the groundwise. By this means one magnet is in connection with thecylinder of another instrument, and is made to operate at the pleasureof the distant operator. The next moment the cylinder S is incommunication-with the bearingspringT.Thedistautinstrumentbeinginconnection with the cog-wheel R, the magnetthereot'is'liable to be afl'ected, provided a connectingspring be throwndown,which establishes the connection with the groundwvire, in consequence of which the magnet of the distant machine operates by beinginconnection with the spring'T, communicating with the main line X, andthis explains the manner in which the cog- --whee1,s or circuit-breakersare employed,that

the tooth of one shall be in connection with the electro-magn'et and atooth of the otherin connection with an insulated cylinder, which, bythe action of springs moved by keys at pleasure, is brought inconnection with the *groundtwire at the same time that it cuts offcommunication withits own magnet, which op eration makes a letter, theone cog-wheel havin gits connection insulated, so that the action of thecircuit shall be intermitted from one to the other. Thus by eachrevolution of these wheels the magnets are brought twenty-seven timesreciprocally in connection with the cylinders of each other. Thuscommunications maybe received or expressed in printing (or printing maybe done backward and forward) by either instrument or machine at thetime or moment when such instrument or machine is communicating amessage to the other.

'For transmitting simultaneously both ways by breaking the main circuit,the natural magnet or. soft-iron armature at the transmittingstation isheldiat rest by the attraction of the electro-magnet developed by meansof a small battery, one pole of which is connected through themagnetiwith the connecting-spring Q and the other with thebearing-spring T, the short circuit being closed by the contact betweena projecting pin on the cylinder S and one of the connectiug'springs Q.Such small battery forms a part of the main circuit in receiving and ofthe short circuit in transmitting.

L is a bolt to be moved toward the flange K by the action of a camattached to the crank H. The flange K has one slot opposite the blank onthe type-wheel J, also one. other slot opposite any given letter, theflange of the similar wheel of like machines in other oflices each tohave two" slots, one corresponding with the blank on the type-wheel andthe other correspond ing with some different letter by which such ofliceis distinguished; for example, determining the letter A on the wheel torepresent the New York oflice, the letter Bto represent the Baltimoreoffice, and the letter O the Washington office. The first action ofelectricity starts all instruments on the route, and at the same timemoves the bolt L near to the flange K. The next action of the cranksends the bolt against the flange K; or, if a slot be opposite the bolt,the latter passes through, and, being in form properly adapted to theflange, permits the instrument to run; but if no slot he opposite thebolt the same is forced against the flange and stops the revolution ofthe wheel. Suppose, then, itis desired to communicate with New York tothe exclnsionof Baltimore. Both intruments being ready to receive, thefirst closing and breaking oi the current starts all instruments at thesame time, the bolt in each by the first revolution moving near to theflange. The next breaking and closing of the circuit, if effected whilethe slot is opposite the bolt, forces the bolt through the slot, notsuspending the operation of the instrument A;

but no slot being opposite A in the instrument at Baltimore, thecorresponding bolt there is forced against the flange and instantlysuspends the movement of the wheel, thus so arranging a bolt andoperating the same-so as weight corresponding with parts of clock-work,

setting free at each vibration a tooth of said ratchetwheei, thandirectly governing the revolutions the typewheel, which is on the sameehafti Fig, 3 on. P!

the con thereto,

e 2, is the vibrating spring in shoe weight attached meat of which slideor Wei Patent, is-- is effected and controlled by a lever andconfleeting-spring operated on by a thumbscrew, the object and effect ofwhich are to compel a uniform movement under different tempera 'tures.

J is the typewvheel, (on the periphery of which the letters are inrelief,) and it makes continuous revolutionsv without any apparentintermission of rapidity during the action of the platen and while thecommunication is being printed.

S is the cylinder or barrel, upon which pins or projections are arrangedspirally at equal intervals-upon the circumference, as shown upon thedrawings. The spring Q, is so arranged that by the action of the keys\VWV WV it is thrown into line with the projections, The circuit is thencompleted at the moment of con tact between the projections or pins andthe springs. The series of keys W W W is so ar ranged that theconnectingsprings Q are thrown into position so as to be acted on by theprojections on the barrel or cylinder, which restore at the same timethe connecting-springs to their originalposition, thus closing thecircuit. Y Y

-,Plate 3: No.1 is the electro magnet. No. 2 is the natural magnet; No.3, the detent moved by natural magnet No. 2 when released from theelectro-magnet, permitting the crank-lever No. 5 to revolve, and in sodoing raising the platen 6, so as to press up against the letters of thetype-wheel 7 at the same time restoring the natural magnet to itsoriginal position by the action of lever No. 4, which lever 4 isoperated on. by the crank. 8. No. the connecting-wire or main line. No.18 is the cylinder. No. 11 is one of the connecting-springs incommunication with the cylinder by means of pin 12. No. 13 is a lever bymeans oi" which the connecting-spring, 11 is thrown into eonnectionwith. thepin on cylinder 10. No. let is one of the keys indicating theletter to he prin ted, the pressingdown of. which moves lever 13.. No.15 represents the groundplate.

I. do not claim any feature of any existing printing or markingtelegraph as any part of my invention, nor do I desire to interfere inthe least with any heretofore invented. Con- I oeiving that I have madeimportant improvements in telegraphdnstruments, I desire protection onlyfor that which is novel andof my own invention; and therefore M *vVhat Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters l. The holding in place of theattractive power of electro or natural magnetism as applied totelegraphic purposes, whether tlieisame be applied in the manner hereindescribed'or in any similar manner producing like results.

2. Combining with the permament "a. or a soft-iron armature anadjustable spring, sever it from its contact with the soft irouot' theeleetro-magnet whenever a change is made in. eiestrical conditionthereof, and a lever or its equivalent, which,-after the permanentmagnet oral-mature has been separated from the iron by the action or thebreaking of a current, shall bring it back again into renewed contact bythe action of the power which has been called into action bythe retreatof the magnet.

3. The employment of two cog-wheels or circuit-breakers at each station,so arranged that one shall be in connection'ivith the electromagnet atthe same station and the other in connection with thetransmitting-cylinder at that station, the whole being arranged so thatthe connection alternates atleach station for every letter between theelectro-magnet and thetransmitting-cylinderat that station in suchmanner that the through-connection is always simultaneously th rough thetransmitting-cylinderof one station and the electro-magnet of the eralthe use of a single wire for the simultaneous transmission'of differentmessages'by means of rapid changes of connection, which is not new, butonly the peculiar manner, as above claimed, in which I have applied itin connection with my machine.

I 4. So arranging a bolt and operating the I same by a cam, oritsequivalent that it shall act upon a wheel attached to the shaft ofthe type-wheel, so as to preclude the intelligence from one stationbeing communicated to any other station or stations on the circuit fromwhich it is desired to withhold the communication.

5. The employment of a vibrating spring, properly weighted at itsextremity, if necessary, and so arranged by a series of mechanism as togovern and regulate the movement of the type-wheel. This I claim alsoasa governor in other machinery, without limiting itsuse to itsconnection with electromagnetism.

6. Printing by electromagnetism by a continuously-moving type-wheelprintin g while in motion.

7. The arrangement of a cylinder with pins spirally arranged thereon tooperate by contact with-metallic points to close and break the circuit,when this is combined, for the purposes herein set forth, with thesystem of keys and catches so arranged that any,desired point maybethrown intoa position where it will be retained until it is struck byits corresponding pill.

8. The closing a short circuit at the transmitting-station at the samemoment the main circuit is broken. a

DAVID E. HUGHES.

Witnesses;

Joe. G. G. KENNEDY. E. M. HAMILTON.

